Method of applying bale ties



June 24, 1924. I 1,499,096

I... CAMPBELL METHOD OF APPLYING BALE TIES Filed Sept. 8, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J3 15 a 9 Q m 1o 12 15 9 16 17 55 fig. 3 11 11 June .24, 1924. 1,499,096

L. CAMPBELL METHOD OF APPLYING BALE TIES Filed Sept. 8, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 24, 1924- L.CAMPBELL METHOD OF APPLYING BALE TIES Filed Sept. 8, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet L.CAMPBELL METHOD OF APPLYING'BALE TIES June 24, 1924.

Filed Sept 8, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fries.

LAYARD CAMPBELL, OF NEH YORK, N, Y ASSIGNOB- BY MESNE ASSIGNIJIENTS, TO

TWIST SEAL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO. ILLINQIS A CQfiEORATION Q11 DELAWARE.

METHOD 015' APPLYIIKTG BALE TIES.

Application filed September 8 1922.

the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

The aresent invention relates to 1m rovemer ts in the method of applying bale ties,

and particularly to that class of tool which is employed inco-nnection with bale wire straps.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To tighten the wire in service; to provide a tie for the straps which cannot'easily be released; to automatically finish the operation of strapping by cutting the surpluswire from the main portion thereof at the completion of the tightening operation; to dispose the cut end of the wire in such position as to avoid lacerating the hands or tearing the clothes of operators and others; and to construct a light and workable tool.

@ther features'and advantages will appear from time to time as the description of th invention progresses, reference being had the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a side view'of a tool of the character mentioned constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention showing in conjunction therewith fragments of a bale wire held by the tool in operative relation;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the same the fragments of bale wire being omitted;

Figure 3 is a view showing two end fragments of the bale wire disposed inthe relat on formed by the operation of the tool;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a modified form of holding device for drawing up the wire; a a v Figure 5 is a side elevation of an alternative form of tool incorporating wire twistinnmeans; I

Figure 6 is a plan view of same;

Figure 7 is a view indicating the operative positions assumed by the tool at the beginning and completion of the sealing opera tion.

Serial No. 587,015.

Figure 8 is a cross section taken as on the line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a view showing the completed knot resultant from the operation of the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive; a i

Figures 10 to 21 show another form'of tightening tool;

Figure 10 is a top view of the tool; Figure 11 is a-bottom plan view of the same; 7 r V Figure 12 is an elevation of a portion of the tighteninglever being cut away;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section, the section being takenon the line 13-'-13 of Figure 10; v H I a Figure 14 is a side elevation of a tool in service position after having completed its function; V l Figure 15 is a detail view showing the wire twisting and cutting mechanism;

Fiqure 16 is a detail view showing the cutter;

Fi 'ure 17 is a detail view showing the foot plate employed for holding the loop provided on the wire strap;

Figure 18 is an edge view of the same; Figure 19 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 1919 of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is. a diagrammatic view of wire strap showing the initial position of the free end of the said strap'to the loop with which it is provided; and u Figure 21 is a similar view showing the free end' of the said strap as twisted about theadj'a cent portion of the strap at the completion of the operation of the said tool.

Heretofore bale wires have been secured to packing cases. boxes and other cartons, by tools of various shape and construction which. have been' faulty insevera-l particulars.v They have been too heavy, and have been unwieldy in operation. Also objection has been found to the complication of construction and to the cost of the former tools. i a

In the present invention a claw bar 8 is furnished preferably formed from a bar of metal. the end 9 of which is twisted as" seen inthe drawings to a plate perpendicular to the plane of the extension of said bar The end!) of the bar is bifurcated to form the open end slot. 10. The slot 10 is adapted to receive the bale wire 11, when the tines 12 of the claw bar are extended over the loop 13 of the bale wire.

The bale wires are furnished each with a loop 13, formed by twisting the end of the wire back upon itself. The free end of the halewire ispassed through the loop after the bale wire has been loosely adjusted around a bale or package. It is then that the tool herein described is brought into operation by placing the tines 12 of the clawbar above the loop 13 and by pass ing the free end of the bale wire 11 to theinner end ofthefslot 10. In this posiime will be found. the twisted. section 1 of theb'ale wire, adjacent the loop 13, ex tends between the pins 15, which are proiected from the under side of the end 9 of the claw bar. In practice, the pins 15 rest against the sidesof the loop 13 at the inner n fil reeff "Pivotally mounted on the claw bar '8, by ineansof a pivot pin 16, is a lever 17. The lever 17 is preferably constructed of the same material as the claw bar 8, and is providediwith a gripping block 18, and dog 19. The dog 19' is provided with teeth or serrationson the lower edge, to frictionally' engage :the wire 11. The dog 19 has a pivot 20, on which it turns when drawn by the wire 11. Normally the dog is held away from the'bloclc18 by a release spring 21,

which presses the dog .19 against the stop pin when the dog is not engaged by the i 1? "The free end of the lever 17 is bent to forrna handle 2-3, as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. The operator employs the handle 23 to rock the leverl'? forward from the position shown in full .lines in Figure 1 to the positionindicated by dotted lines therein. In this position it will be seen the dog 19 being held open by the spring 21, the free end of the wire 11, which has beenex tended through the loop and slot 10 is easily placed between blocl; 18 and the dog 19. The operator now manually depresses the dog 19, until it.engages'tirrnly the wire 11. I

In this position, the lever 17 is drawn toward. the position shownby full lines in F igure 1. In the inauguration of this movement of thelever 17. the dog 19 grips the wire 11, and holds the same rigidly, the grip thereon increasing with the strain on the wire iinparted by the lever 17 After the dog 19 has become firmly engaged the wire 11, the operator holds the 'bar '8 with the one hand, while forcefully drawing the lever with the other hand, until the desired stress or strain has been-imparted to the wire 11. During the operation of. drawingthe free end of the wire '11 through the loop 13, the loop 18 is held stationary by the pins 15. so that when the bale wire is sufiiciently tightened the loop 13 is in the position assumed thereby at the beginning of the operation.

The wire 11 having been drawn tight, the operator now holding the lever 17 firmly lifts the. bar 8 and rocks the same on the tines 12. and the loop 13. until the lever 17 has carried fully over to lay on the bale or package. In doing this it will be found the free end of the wire 1] has been drawn tightly around and lapped over the loop .13. to the position substantially as shown in Figure of the drawings.

In this position the strain on the wire 11 is not sufiicient to straiqhten the said w re.

To insure against accident. the operator now grips the surplus material from the free end of the wire 11, and sets the end thereof down either passing it under the adjacent extension of the wire 11, or returns the same back against the loop 18, foin ing a complete wrap thereabout,

While I have herein described the dog as having a toothed surface for engaging the wire 11, the same result may be attained by remidinp; the teeth on the block 18, and furnishing the dog 19 with free edge.

In Figure .4 of the drawings a modified form of the invention is shown. the modificat on consisting in providing the lever 17 with two stationary blocks, 24 and 25. The blocks and 25. as shown. are disposed in spaced relation, the said blocks being removed from each other to form a pasage therebetween, wherein the operator may place the wire 11 when the lever 17 is disposed in the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

After the wire has been placed in the passage between the blocks 24 and 25, the wire is manually bent or snubbed around the sharp edge of the block 24:, to prevent the wire slipping when the strain of drawing the same imparted by the lever 17. As the lever 17 is rocked on its pivot to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1. the bite of the wire over the rear edge of the block 25 holds the same in conjunction with the block 24 as rigidly as it would be held by the dog 19.

The tool herein described may be constructed ofas lighta material. as theemploynient permits. The tool is, therefore, as light may be commensurate with the strength required. By removing the pin 16 the bar 8 and lever 17 may be separated, and packed in close relation, thereby reducing the size of the packet, and avoiding the discomfort of an otherwise awkwardly shaped packet.

In the modified form of. the tool shown in Figures 5 to 8, the point 28 is bifurcated. as in the former tool, in advance of the studs 29. As in the former tool, the studs 29 hold the loop A of the strap, while the free end IOU B thereof is being drawn through the'loop A, to tighten the strap on the carton or package. The free end is primarily held by a dog 30, which is pivoted on the pinBl extended from the side of the take-up lever 32. The dog 30 has a serrated end which grips the wire and holds the same against the stud 33 set out from the side of the lever 32.

In the present tool provision is made for twisting the "tree end B of the strap on the body of the strap adjacent to the loop A, for the purpose of forming a second loop on the so-called free end of the wire. This loop wl' en torined PLGVGHTS the tree end of the wire from loosening or straightening out, so that there is no danger of pulling through the loop A. Also provision is made for severing the tree end to rid the same of the surplus material which may result from the use of straps which are of over length. lhe wires are twisted primarily by means of a slotted gearpinion 38, The pinion 38 has a bearing in bracket standard 39, which is made fast as by the bolt O to the flattened sections 36 of the bar The flattened section 36 is bored to form bearing for the beveled gear wheel 41 which is meshed with the pinion 38. A crank i2 is employed for rotating the gear wheel 41 and the pinion 38. Tothis end the crank is furnished with the handle 43. As shown best in Figure 8, ot the drawings, the slot 44 in the said pinion extends from the perimeter thereof pastthe center thereot. The distance to which the said slot is out past the said center is equal to one and one-half times the diameter of the wire on which the strap is made. As hereinafter explained, the purpose of so forming the slot is to permitthe free end of the wire being sheared or severed without endangering the body of the wire around which the free end is then twisted.

The ratio between the pinion 38 and the wheel 41.1 issuch that the pinion ll is revolved the necessary number of turns to the one complete revolution of the wheel 41, and the relation further provides that when. the crank 42 is parallel with the bar 35, the slot 4:4; is perpendicular to the section 36 with the open end of the slot uppermost.

This is the natural position for the crank 42 when the loop A of the strap is primarily placed between. the studs 29. As the strap is placed loosely in position on the package before the tool is brought into operation, the free end B is passed between the studs As the free end is placed between the dog 30 and the stud 33 the body of the said free end naturally drops into the slot 4A in the pinion 38, and through the opening pro-' vided therefor at the upper edge of the bracket 39. With the wires so disposed the lever 32 is shifted forward, rocking-011 the boltBL to engage the tree'end B as far for ward'as the operation suggests or permits,

With the tool then braced the loop A and the loop A. being held by the studs the lever 32 is drawn back, the dogs A gripping the wire. so that the full torce of the lever is exerted to draw the tree end B through. the loop A, through the slot in the point. 28, and through the slot :1 in thepinion 38, seating the wire firmly in the bottom of the said slot.

When the strap has been drawn sutficiently tight the tool is turned over on the point 28. as shown in Figure 7 of the draw ings, where the full line representation of the tool is the position assumed thereby when the wire has been tightened, and the broken lines in the figure show the position assumed by the tool when overturned upon the point 28 and upon the rockers 45. The rockers t5 operate to lift the body of the strap from the package as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, and dispose the wire within the slot 44. when the end of the bracket 39 rests on the package.

It will now be observed that the handle 4-3 of the crank 42 is upturned, and in position to be easily engaged by the operator, rho, holding the lever 32 and bar 35 with one hand in the overturned position grasps the handle and revolves thereby the wheel 4-1. and the pinion 38. As the pinion 38 revolves, it picks up the body of the strap and draws the same to the center of the pinion 38" where it continues to remain while the free end B of the wire is being twisted thereabout. During three-quarters of the first revolution or" the pinion 38, the free end B is held taut by the dog 30, and the lever 32. During the further rotation of the pinion 38 the wire forming the free end B is'severed bythe cutter bar 46, the cutt' edge 47 whereof is disposed in the path of the wire tonnine: the free end B and out of the path of the body wire C of the strap. The cutteifbar 4&6 is a square loop which s rigidly mounted upon the hracket'39. After the surplus material of the tree endB has been severed, the pinion continuing to revolve. twist; the remainder ot the free end B about the body of the wire C. making a substantial and perfect seal, which is not in danger 0t becoming detached to pull throiigh the loop A.

hen the crank 42 has completed a. cycle, and assumed its initial position. it will be found that the slot 44 is in position to permit the wire 9 and tree endB twisted about the same to be delivered from the said pinion. The tool is then rocked back to the position shown by full lines in Figure; 6 of the drawings. and the studs 29 are drawn backward out of engagementwith the loop A, the sealing of the strap having been completed.

As seen best in Figure 6 of the drawings, the hand bar 35 is offset from the lever 32 by the bracket extension 458. The offset thus formed is provided to allow the passage of the stud and dog when the lever 32 is disposed in juxtaposed parallel relation to the 1 ar 35. While I have found the bar 35 a helpful feature it is not essential to the complete operation of the tool. In some instances it is preferred to sever the bar 35 adjacent the bolt 34. and between the said bolt and the offsetbracket -18. It is found that the tool may be readily manipulated when using the crank 42 and the lever 32 for this purpose, It is obvious that after the tool has been set to engage the loop A and free end B. the hand bar 35 performs almost no function that cannot as well be performed by the crank 41-2. to wit. the overturning of the tool to the position shown by broken lines in Figure 7 of the drawings.

The tool shown in Figures 10 to 19 opcrates to hold the looped end of the bale wire while first drawing taut the wire on a carton or package to be shipped and then tying the :free end of the wire on the loop and then removing tie superfluous wire from the strap. To this end the tool is provided with a foot plate. The plate is best shown in Figures 17 to 19 inclusive, where is shown the spur 51 formed by cutting the slots in the plate 50 at opposite sides of the spur '51. The forward end of the spur 51 is inclined backwardly to provide a hook-like structure for engaging the loop in the bale wire. The front edge of the spur 51 has a groove 53 to hold the free end of the bale wire when passed there through. The groove 53 is coincident with the open flared end slot5 1 to guide the tool over the wire when the tool 'is rolled on the nose pieces 55 with which the body of the tool is provided. v

Asseen best in Figures 10 and 19, the

slot 54 is extended backward from the end of the spur '51 to afford a passageway for the loose end wire 56 when the same is drawn through the loop 57 of the wire 56. The slot 54laligns with the slot '58 formed in'the housing 59 provided for the elongated shank 60 on the end of which is rigidly mounted a bevel pinion 61. The shank 60 and pinion 61 have a slot 62 cut lengthwise thereof extending to below the axis of said shank and pinion a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the wire 56. The width of the slots 5 1.58; and 62 is substan tiallythe same as the diameter or gage of the wire 56, hence whenever two sections of Wire are disposed in the said slots, one of the said sections is removed from the center of the pinion 61 in the path of the severing end of the cutter 63. In practice this is generally the section of wire known as the free end and which in service-is held taut by the. ratchet j aw-Gi and the bolster block 65 which is mounted on the tightening lever 66.

The tightening lever 66 is pivotally mounted on the handle 67 by means of the pivot bolt 66. The bolt 68 binds the handle 67 on the body 69. said bolt having a head '70 which draws the recess in the handle 67 over the lug 71 in the side of the body 69 whenever the nut 72 is tightened. The body 69 also has mounted thereon a resting stub 73 which in conjunction with the nose pieces supports the tool in the position shown in Figure 14 of the drawings. which is that assumed by the tool at the moment of severing the. waste end of the wire 56.

In Figure 26 there is shown on diminu tire scale. wire strap in the initial stage of forming the tie where the free end 56 of the bale wire has been passed loosely through the loop 57 thereof. hen operating in conjunction with the tool herein described. it will be understood that the spur 51 of the tool extends into and is engaged b7 the loop 57. while the free ends 56 extend through. the loop and the slots 54, '58 and 62 to be engaged by the jaw 64- and the bolster 65 when the lever 66 is thrown to the forward position shown in Figure 12 of the drawings. in Figure 21 the same parts of the wire are disclosed as in the position as sumed at the completion of the operation of the tool, the free end 56 having been overturned to form a second loop which engages the loop 57 and twist about the body of the wire to hold the same intact.

The twist formed by the tool as above referred to is performed by the pinion 61 which is rotated on the bearing of the shank 60 within the housing 59. It is preferred that the bevel gear wheel has a ratio to the pinion 61 which provides two complete revolutions of the pinion. 61, for one complete revolution of the wheel 74. At the time when the pinion 61 isrotated the free end of the-wire 56 and the body of the wire adjacent to the loop 57 rests within the slot in the shank 60 and pinion 61. As the slot is narrower than the combined diameters of the two sections of wire. the said sections are compelled one to wrap on the other in correspondence with the rotation of the said shank and pinion.

As above mentioned the free end 56 of the wire is first laid in the bottom of the slot 62 and extends beyond the axial center of the said shank and the pinion 61, therefore, the free end referred to is carried on and twisted about the body of the wire forming the twisted section shown in Figure21 of the drawings.

To rotate the wheel 74 it is operatively connected with the handle 7 5 and the handle head 76. The head 76 has rigidly mounted thereon a stub shaft 77, the upper end whereof extends above the body of the wheel 74 and is perforated to hold the cutter 63. The cutter 63 engages upstanding pins '78, set in the wheel 74-, and thereby imparts the rotation to the said'wheel from the handle head 76. It will be noted that by means of this construction the shock and strain onthe cutter 63 is not borne by the wheel 74 but is transmitted direct to the head 76 and handle 7 during the operation of severing the waste end of the wire.

it has been found advantage us to rot-ate the wheel 61 two and a half revolutions, the last haif revolution being imparted liter the waste end of the wire has been severed. The result of the continuation of the revolution of the pinion 61 is that the se ered end of the wire 56 is carried beneath or to the underside of that section or the wire around which it iswound. The result or his operation is that the sharp or jagged end of the severed portion of the wire is disposed out of harms way in ciose juxtaposition to the cover or package which is being strapped. it is also essential in order that the shank 60 and pinion 61 may be freed from the wire after the same has been twisted tiat the wheel 7 and pinion 61 be reversely rotated for the said half j. tlon so that the slot 62 may be placed in ali nment with. the slot 58 in the housing 59, in which position the tool may be re; moved from engagement with the wire which will pass through the said slots out of engagement. with the said tool.

To provide a definite stop for the wheel 7d and pinion 61 the handle head 76 has lug 79 which isengaged by a sgring operated latch pin 8 mounted in a shun provided in the body 69 for the sprf U the said pin. The normally advancing side oi the lug 79 is inclined to ride under the pin 4-5 and to remove the same froa the oath of thesaid lug As soon the lug has passed, the pin resumes its normal posit on against the back of the head 76 and the path of the square shoulder formed ie back ot the lug 79 when the said lug is rctractively rota d. The direct result of this action 18 that when the lug 79 ene aligned When provided with toot constructed and arranged as herein shown and described the ope ation of strapping shipping carton or other package is as follows: A bale wire strap such as shown in Figure 20 of ngs extended about the package 81 an d and with the pin the slots 58 and 62' swung "forward towards the engaged end of the tool as far as the possibilities of the construction and the needs of the operation de- The slack of the wire on the package may be now taken up with the tool. resting in the position as shown in Figure 19- of the draw ings b rocking the lever 66, the jaw 64; gripping the wire of the forward rocks of tire eve 66 to draw the same forward by 1 e frictionai. engagement imparted bv the .d jaw and the bolster 65 on the ten the wire has been drawn sut end. 56 and adjacent. the been disposed in theslots 541 1 rests intiie slot 62 the axia th nk 60 and pinion In ner describe it has been will be found tl dra n to the uppermost} shown in letof the dran l gs where it is free be manipulated by the operatorwho then the handle one an'd a halt complete revolutio s at the end. of which he reverses is until the movement is arrested bv gement off h '29 with the pi n 86. ill be observed ng the comv l the center or". the shank 77. the pinion 61 and sections or wire contained therein have been rerolr'ed two complete revolutionsgor the free end 56 the w re 56 has been twisted twice'about the body of the said wire and that due to the further halt revolution of t e pinion 61 the severed end of the tree end 7 has been turned beneath body of the wire in juxtaposed relation to the box or package being prepared. for transportation. I do not limit myself to the particular sediments of my invention herein shown described, as Iappreciate that my invention may be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention covered by the appended claims What if claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of applying bale tie having a loop at one end which consists, first, in extending the tie around a bale or the like, second, passing the unlooped end of the tie through the loop, third, placing said tie under tension by drawing the unlooped end thereof through the looped end with the aid of a tightening tool having one end con- L re ersin tne tool in the m n 1e lever 66 and v A as parallel rela WIFE adi acent or forniltlil formed to engage said loop, fourth, turning said tool in the plane of the tie While maintaining the tie under tension and Without disengaging the tool from the loop to turn the untwi'sted tie end back upon itself, and, fifth, twisting the adjacent portions of the nntwisted tie end together to form a second loop while utilizing the tool to prevent rotation of the portions of the untwisted tie end immediately adjacent to the firstmentioned loop by engagement of the tool therewith, and simultaneously utilizing the tool to maintain the tie under; tension until the;

twisting operation has so far progressed that the tie will remainundertension-1m" aided by said tool.

2. The method of applying a bale tie having a loop at one endwhich consists; first, in extending the tie around. a bale or the like, second, passing the unloopedi endof the tie through said loop, third, placing said tiaunder tension by drawing the unloopedendthereof through the looped end thereof with the aid of a tightening toolhaving one end conformed to engage said loop, fourth, turning said tool in the plane of the tie while maintaining the tie under tension and with out disengaging the tool from the loop to turn the untwisted tie end backupon itself, and, fifth, utilizing thetoolto twist the ad jacent portionsof the untwisted tie end togetherrto form a second-loop While utilizing the tool to prevent rotation ofthe portions of theuntwisted tie end immediately adjacent to the first-mentioned loop by engagement of the tool therewith and simultaneously utilizing the tool to maintain the tie under tension until the twisting operation has so far progressed that the .tie' Will remain under tensionunai'ded by said tool.

thereof throngh the looped end with the aid of a tightening tool having one end conformed to engage said loop, fourth, turning said tool in the'planc of the tie While main taining. the tie under tension and Without disengaging the tool from the loop to turn the untwisted tie end back upon itself, and,

fifth,utilizing the toolto twist the adjacent portions of the untwisted tie end together to form a second loop While simultaneously utilizing the tool-to prevent rotationof the tie and also to maintain thetie under tension until the twistin operation has so far progressedthat the tie will remain under-tension unaidedby said tool.

sh The methodoffapplying a bale tie having' a loop at one endwhich consists, first, in extending the tie around a bale or the like, second, passing the unloop'ed end of the tie through said loop, third, placing said tie under tension by drawing the unlooped end thereof through the loop Withthe aid of a tightening tool adapted to engage the said unlooped end, fourth, utilizing the said tool toturn the untw-isted tie' end'back upon it.-

self, fifth, twisting the adjacent portions ofthe untwisted tie end together to form asecond loop while utilizing the tool to prevent rotation of the portions ofthe untWist- (d tie end immediately adjacent to the firstmentioned loop by engagement of the tool therewith and simultaneously utilizing the tool to prevent rotation of the untWisted tie.

end by engagement thereof immediately adjacent' to theifirst mentioned loop, and, finally, removing the excess portion of the tie by severing itintermediate the second loop and a handon said tie engaged and held by said tool.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribemynamethis-29th dayof August, 1922.

LAYARD CAMPBELL. Witnesses: v

F. Mnnnocn, M. R. SEARS. 

